Hyderabad Kingsmen booked their place in the PSL 2026 playoffs in emphatic style, posting 244/6 against Rawalpindi in their final league game and then bowling the opposition out for 136, a 108-run win that lifted them to fourth. Marnus Labuschagne has been their most reliable batter, with 274 runs in 10 matches at an average of 30.44 and a strike rate close to 130, while Usman Khan has made 256 runs including a century and a fifty. Glenn Maxwell also rediscovered his form with an unbeaten 70 off 37 balls.
The Kingsmen attack has been solid, led by Mohammad Ali (13 wickets) and Hunain Shah (12), with Akif Javed taking eight at an economy of 9.85. Hassan Khan and Maxwell have shared nine wickets between them in the spin department.
Multan Sultans had a strong campaign overall, winning six of 10 to finish third, yet two straight defeats cost them a place in Qualifier 1. Their last league outing ended in a four-wicket loss to Islamabad United, who chased 193 in 18.4 overs. The batting remains a strength: Sahibzada Farhan averages 45.62 at a strike rate of 170 with a century and two fifties, Steven Smith has 367 runs at 163, Shan Masood has 298 and Josh Philippe 262.
The bowling is the worry, having failed to defend totals of 214 and 193. Peter Siddle leads with 13 wickets but concedes nearly nine an over, while Muhammad Ismail and Mohammad Wasim Jr have 16 between them and Arafat Minhas has nine at an economy of 8.50. Given Hyderabad’s momentum, our preview picks the Kingsmen.
